Environmental
SecurityThere are books written on this topic, and I have done feature articles on security installations of VERY large facilities that have absolutely no fences. They rely heavily on Mother Nature. So, back to my house. Separating my house from the two on either side of me are enormous hedges. They run from the front of my home to the sidewalk, maybe 12 feet or so, and are at least six feet high. If you're walking down the street, someone easily could hide behind one and attack you. But I'm not walking down the street. However, this is something to consider around the entrances to your home: Are there large shrubs and bushes behind which a bad guy could hide and mug you. If so, they should be seriously trimmed to prevent this.
On the other hand, bushes and shrubs and such can be your friends! On the far side of my garage is a three-foot-wide strip of land between the garage and my neighbor's fence. In the front of it, by the garage door, is a small gate. Though the gate is fastened shut, it would not be difficult to open it. It keeps Max in the yard, of course, but what keeps the bad guys from getting into my yard? First, I planted a barberry shrub right behind the gate. That was two years ago. NO one would enter there now. Then I planted more ferns to build up the empty area, and now I have several dozen large thistle plants growing there as well. If you ever got into my yard through that way, we'd just follow the trail of blood to find you.
The fence between the house and garage is locked, and the other gate to the yard is very inaccessible. Sure, you could jump or climb over the fence, but old Max does NOT take kindly to intruders. Use those natural resources to both help protect your home and to ensure nothing bad can happen to you. It works both ways.
